Announcement

The identity of the new Doctor was revealed exclusively on BBC One and on social media around the world after the Men’s Wimbledon Final on Sunday 16 July.

She will be the Thirteenth Time Lord and take over from Peter Capaldi, who leaves the global hit show at Christmas.

New head writer and executive producer Chris Chibnall, who takes over from Steven Moffat on the next series, made the decision to cast the first ever woman in the iconic role.

Jodie Whittaker says: “I’m beyond excited to begin this epic journey with Chris and with every Whovian on this planet. It’s more than an honour to play the Doctor. It means remembering everyone I used to be, while stepping forward to embrace everything the Doctor stands for: hope. I can’t wait.”

Chris Chibnall, New Head Writer and Executive Producer says : “After months of lists, conversations, auditions, recalls, and a lot of secret-keeping, we’re excited to welcome Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor.

“I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we’re thrilled to have secured our number one choice. Her audition for The Doctor simply blew us all away. Jodie is an in-demand, funny, inspiring, super-smart force of nature and will bring loads of wit, strength and warmth to the role. The Thirteenth Doctor is on her way.”

Peter Capaldi says: “Anyone who has seen Jodie Whittaker’s work will know that she is a wonderful actress of great individuality and charm. She has above all the huge heart to play this most special part. She’s going to be a fantastic Doctor.”

Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of BBC Content, says: “Making history is what Doctor Who is all about and Chris Chibnall’s bold new take on the next Time Lord is exactly that. The nation is going to fall in love with Jodie Whittaker – and have lots of fun too!”

Piers Wenger, Controller BBC Drama, says : “Jodie is not just a talented actor but she has a bold and brilliant vision for her Doctor. She aced it in her audition both technically and with the powerful female life force she brings to the role. She is destined to be an utterly iconic Doctor.”

Matt Strevens, Executive Producer, says : “I’m so thrilled that Jodie Whittaker said yes to playing the Doctor. I’ve been a fan for years and always hoped to work with her. She is an actor of great emotional range and inhabits every role with complete passion and conviction. Just thinking about what she will bring to the Doctor makes me as excited as a kid at Christmas. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

After the break, there’s questions with Jodie Whittaker about taking the part

Big Finish have just released details on the first ever Big Finish Torchwood box set, called Outbreak. This four episode boxset will feature Captain Jack, Ianto, Gwen, Rhys and PC Andy, with other cast members yet to be announced!

Writer of Doctor Who spin off, Class, Patrick Ness has published a series of tweets that are seemingly the synopsis for the series. The synopsis is as follows;

What if your planet was massacred and you and your worst enemy were the only survivors? What if a legendary figure out of time and space found you a place to hide? But what if the things that wanted to kill you have tracked you down? And worst of all, what if you haven’t studied for your A-Levels..? Because Coal Hill School has been a part of Doctor Who since the very beginning. But that’s come at a price… Like all sixth formers, our heroes navigate a life of friends, parents, school, sex, sorrow – and possibly the end of all existence. Something waits for us there, just on the other side of sight, for its chance to kill everything, to bring us all into Shadow…

Class has five regular cast members: four sixth formers and a new presence at Coal Hill School. The sixth formers will be played by Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Vivian Oparah and Sophie Hopkins. The new presence is being played by Katherine Kelly and is described as “powerful, dangerous, lethal…”

Fear is coming. Tragedy is coming. War is coming. Prepare yourselves, Class is coming.

With Gallifrey One going on Stateside, Big Finish have announced that the Eighth Doctor’s companion, Lucie Miller will return for April’s Short Trip (which I will review in a haiku) in The Curse of The Fugue.

Sheridan Smith, who plays Lucie has said “I have missed Big Finish, and I have missed playing Lucie – I can’t tell you, honestly, those years of playing her with Paul McGann were so much fun. I’m very grateful and happy to be back in the studio. The fans have been great, they’ve really taken to her, they write lovely messages to me on Twitter. I’ve missed her!”

For fans of Lucie Miller (myself included), you might be worried that they’re going to meddle around with her departure, but rest assured they don’t have any plans to. Big Finish fan favourite Nick Briggs has confirmed this saying, “But I can confirm there are definitely no plans to reverse her fate in To The Death.”